Merck to pay $671 million to settle whistleblower suits

Merck has agreed to pay more than $671 million to settle two whistleblower suits that claimed the company used improper marketing tactics, including kickbacks to doctors to encourage them to write more prescriptions for its most profitable drugs, like Vioxx and Zocor. One suit alleged that Merck treated high-prescribing physicians to lavish vacations that the company termed "consultant meetings." Merck said it admitted to no wrongdoing and that the marketing practices at issue in the suits ended in 2001.

Merck & Co. has agreed to pay more than $671 million to settle a pair ofwhistleblower lawsuits that claimed the company used improper marketingtactics, including kickbacks to doctors, to encourage them to write moreprescriptions for its most profitable drugs, like Vioxx, Zocor andSingulair.

The two settlements were announced by federal prosecutors inPhiladelphia and New Orleans.

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